Robb  Larson, M.S., P.E. Assistant Professor Department of Mechanical and  Industrial Engineering Montana State University Bozeman, MT phone  (406) 994-6420 fax       (406) 994-6292 email   rlarson@me.montana.edu

Teaching Focus: 

• Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology 
  Component and System Design
• Engineering Measurements & Instrumentation
• Automated Data Acquisition, Field Data Collection and Analysis
• Computer-Aided Design and Analysis

Service: 

• MIE Lab Committee, MIE Computer Committee, MET Curriculum Committee
• MSU Grievance Committee, MIE Faculty search committee
• Participant in COE 'LEAP' camp, WTI 'REU' program, MSU 'Peaks and Potentials' Camp, MSU 'Catapalooza' Event. 
• Montana Apprenticeship Program Student Sponsor, Undergraduate Scholars Program Student Sponsor
• Faculty Advisor for MSU Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) club 
  & the "Bobcat Motor Sports" Formula SAE Race Car team
• Faculty Advisor for MSU Flyfishing Club, the "Compleat Anglers"
• Faculty Advisor for MSU "Hellcats" Hockey Club

Recent Honors and Awards: 

• MSU Outstanding Instructor Award in Mechanical Engineering Spring 2005
• MSU Teaching and Learning Committee Innovative Teaching Award 2005

Experience:

• Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology, 2005 - Present
• Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering, 2004-2005
  Adjunct Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, 2001-2004
  Adjunct Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, 1993-2001
  Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
  MSU Bozeman, MT
• Mechanical Engineering Consulting , Self-employed, 1996 - Present
• Senior Mechanical Design Engineer & Project Engineer, McDonnell Douglas Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA 1988-90
• Senior Mechanical Design Engineer & Project Engineer, General Dynamics Convair Division, San Diego, CA 1982-88

Certifications:

• P.E., State of Montana, 1996
• E.I.T., State of Montana, 1982

Recent Research & Grants

• Montana Wind Applications Center, U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2008
• Vehicle-Based Winter Maintenance Technologies, Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, 2006
• Montana State University Teaching and Learning Committee Innovative Teaching Grant, "Portable Laboratory", 2005
• Video Traffic Surveillance Systems Development, Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, 2003-Present. Principle Investigator on Montana Department of Transportation contract. 
• Avalanche and Snow Dynamics instrumentation development, 2003-Present
• Mobile Research Laboratory Design, Development, Construction and Test:
  Principle Investigator on University Transportation Center Grant through
  Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, 2001-Present
• Road and Weather Information Systems and 
  Highway Maintenance Decision Support, for 
  Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) through
  Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, 2000
• Intelligent Transportation System planning, for
  Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
  Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, 1999
• Instrumentation Development and Impact Analysis of reinforced
  graphite laminates. Pratt & Whitney Corporation, 1998
• Diesel Locomotive Engine Component Engineering 
  Livingston Rebuild Center, 1997

Recent Consulting:

• Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, Expert Report, 2007 - present

• Judnich Law Office, Expert Report, 2008

• Montana Black Gold Archery Equipment, 2006
• Berg Law Firm, Expert Witness/Forensics, 2004
• RAM Environmental LLC, Plan reviews, 2000 - 2003
• Trophy Ridge Archery Equipment, Product Testing, 2002
• MSU Department of Ecology, Cold Regions Instrumentation System Design, 2002
• Textbook Reviews: McGraw-Hill 2002, Prentice Hall, 2001, Brooks/Cole 1999, Addison-Wesley, 1998
• Allied Engineering Services, Water Quality and Biological Sensor Instrumentation,  2001
• State of Montana, Office of the Attorney General, Mechanical Component Failure Analysis,  2000
• Spectrum Pool Products, Hydraulic System Testing & Analysis, 1999
• Addison Wesley Publishers, Contributing Author,  1998
• BioSurface Technologies, Laboratory Equipment Design,  1995-2002
• HSM Incorporated, Mechanical Component Design,  1997
• Mechanical Design, Analysis & CAD Drawings
  Pneumatic, Hydraulic System Design & Analysis
  Patent Drawings and Sketches
  Extrusion Die & Tooling Design
  Manufacturing Support
  Site Plans, As-Built Engineering Drawings & Drafting 

Memberships and Affiliations:

• SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers)
• ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education)
• Bridger Bowl Association,  Bridger Ski Education Foundation, Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Unlimited

Recent Publications:

• Larson, R., "A Snapshot of Success - How Student-initiated Automotive Design Became Integrated into the ME and MET Curricula", Presented at the 2008 ASEE National Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, June 2008. Paper published in Conference Proceedings, 2008.

• Cook, K., Larson, R., "Mechanical Engineering Technology Senior Year Course Integration Model", Presented at the 2008 ASEE National Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, June 2008. Paper published in Conference Proceedings, 2008.

• Larson, R., Cundy, V., " Combined ME/MET Capstone Projects at Montana State University: Organization, Issues, Case Studies, and Lessons Learned". Presented at the 1st Annual Capstone Design Conference, June 14-16 2007, Boulder CO. Published in Conference Proceedings, 2007.

• Cook, K., Larson, R., Fisher, K., "Mechanical Engineering Technology Curriculum Enhancement:  Preparing Graduates for Future Professional Success", Presented at the 2007 ASEE National Conference, Honolulu, HI, June 2007. Paper published in Conference Proceedings, 2007.

• Xianming S., Strong, C., Larson, R., Kack, D., Cuelho, E., Fay, L., El Ferradi, N., Seshadri, A., O'Keefe, K., "Synthesis of Vehicle-Based Winter Maintenance Technologies"  NCHRP 20-7 Task 200, 2006. Prepared for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C. through Western Transportation Institute, College of Engineering, Montana State University.

• Xianming S., Strong, C., Larson, R., Kack, D., Cuelho, E., Fay, L., El Ferradi, N., Seshadri, A., O'Keefe, K., "Vehicle-Based Sensor Technologies for Winter Maintenance: A Critical Review", 2006. Submitted for publication in the 2007 Transportation Research Record series (Journal of the Transportation Research Board). TRB Paper #07-1841.

• Larson, R., “Urban Video Traffic Sampling”, Final Report, 2005
• Larson, R., “WTI Mobile Laboratory” –  Final Report 2005 
• Larson, R., “WTI Mobile Laboratory” - Interim Reports 2001, 2002, 2003
• Cundy, V.A., Cook, K.R., Cox, D.R., Larson, R. and Martindale, W.R., “Mechanical Engineering Technology Curriculum Revision Experiment at Montana State University”, 2000 International Mechanical Engineers Congress & Exposition (IMECE), MET Department Heads Committee (METDHC) Orlando, FL, Nov. 2000. 
• Larson, R., “Exercise Equipment Failure Analysis”, Final Report for State of Montana, Office of the Attorney General, 2000. 
• Strong, C., Larson, R. and McAlister, A., 1999. "Intelligent Transportation Systems Maintenance Plan." Volumes 1 and 2, for State of Oregon Department of Transportation, Technical Services, Traffic Management Section, Intelligent Transportation Unit. Contracted through Western Transportation Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, Montana State University.
• Cairns, D. S., Larson, R., Cook, A., Quigley, T., 1998, "Aircraft Engine Composite Fan Blade Material Candidates: Performance Characterization and Assessment," for Pratt & Whitney under the DARPA sponsored Affordable Composites for Propulsion (ACP) program, through the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Montana State University
• George, A. H. and Larson, R. 1997. "Reverse Engineering of General Electric Diesel Engine Cylinder Liners,
  Final Report." Livingston Rebuild Center, Inc., Task Order 97-1.
• Larson, R. 1992. "Development of Apparatus for In-Situ Erosion Monitoring of Surfaces Immersed in
  High Temperature Fluidized Beds", MS Thesis, Montana State University.

Personal Bio